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Harlan is waiting for some kind of response, and he certainly deserves one.

“I can’t believe you’d do this for me,” is all I manage.

His reply to that is a confused, “Why not?”

Maybe to him, this is a purely logical investment. Even if it turns out not to be a financially sound one, it’s an investment in the happiness of his baby’s mother.

“It means a lot to me that you’d be willing to invest in my dream, and Mom’s,” I tell him. “I’m touched. Really.”

I look around again. Maybe I could turn it into my dream bakery, with some work, and some time…

“I’m glad you feel that way,” he says. “Because this isn’t even the best part. There’s also living space attached.”

“Living space?”

“There’s a generous two-bedroom apartment above. It’s being renovated right now, but we can go up and take a look. There’s a den with a window that can be converted into a bedroom for the baby. And even a rooftop garden area.”

“I… don’t know what to say.”

He drifts closer to me. “I know you’ve enjoyed having more space to bake in. This would be even better. It would be yours.”

More space. In his kitchen, he means. In his house.

Which I won’t be using anymore, once I move in here, is that it?

“You’d buy it so I can work here, and live here? With Mom?”

“I thought it would be the best solution. I want to support you in raising the baby, however makes you happy.”

His words are kind. But his tone is even, unemotional. Businesslike.

Detached, even.

I take a long look at him, really trying to see him, too.

Standing a short distance away from me in his black suit, studying me in return, he reminds me of the Harlan I first met. Mr. Black. Cold, closed and unknowable.

I feel so deeply unsure of where I stand with him, I barely dare ask. But I force it out.

“Harlan… do you want to be in the baby’s life?”

I definitely can’t bear to ask,Do you want to be inmylife?

“Of course,” he says stiffly.

I turn to look out the window, onto the bustling street, and take a breath. What are the chances he’ll open up to me, want any kind of real relationship, before the baby comes?

There’s only eight months until then.

How long will I be able to work? Care for the house and Mom?

Can I really do it all myself?

I try to look at this offer objectively, as the opportunity that it is. The opportunity for Mom. The truth is, our current home is becoming too much work for us both.

“It will be hard to get a business off the ground while pregnant, and then becoming a new mom,” I tell him.

“That’s fine. We can hire support. And you can take all the time you need,” he says easily. “Don’t you think it could work? It’s a great space.”